Transcript You`ve got my WORD on it!

You’ve got my WORD on it!
Word Study Strategies for the ELA Classroom
September 2008
What is Word Study?
• Direct teaching of word parts: Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes
• Approximately 10 minutes every other day/class
• Direct instruction to help students connect prior knowledge
to, organize and internalize word parts and newly learned
words
Why Word Study?
• We need to “provide students with a strong, conceptual
understanding of words parts so students will be able to
generalize meaning(s), pronunciation(s) and usage of the
word part to many other words.”
• Students with an awareness of word parts create a richer
personal vocabulary, allowing them to be stronger readers
and writers.
Why Word Study?
• Direct teaching of word study is “critical to learning and
cannot be underrated.”
• “there is a strong relationship between word study and
learning words in context.”
And also,
• Many of our teachers still feel confused about how word
study works, where or why it fits, and when to teach it.
Where can I find Word Study materials?
• Word Study on FCPS Teach
• Pre-tests and post-tests in Exam View
− on CD copies in buildings
• Word Study lists by grade and unit
− Word Study List - Grade 9, Unit 1
• Templates, teaching ideas and strategies
− Four Square Strategy
• Word Study Article
Let’s move “on-WORD” to a few practical
strategies
• Word Walls
• Four Squares
• Ratings Games
• Word Part “Logs”
• Word Swat
• Word Webs
Getting Started
• Introduce students to word part (prefix, suffix, root)
• Provide some background on the word, meaning and definition
• Create list of words containing the specific part – provide students with a few to
jog their memory
• Create longer list as a class
• Have students rate/rank/select one or two words that most clearly demonstrate
the meaning of the word part
− For example: Phil/Philo – meaning loving, fond of
− Students select Philanthropist – lover of humanity – as their key word
• Review and revisit word part as you encounter it in class
Class Word Walls
• Put word parts (roots, suffixes or prefixes) on cards around room or on bulletin
boards
− Add words containing the studied part as students learn the word part,
practice words containing the word part, add to the wall as they encounter
new words containing the word part
− Let kids use their own handwriting – sense of ownership and community –
use sentence strips, index cards, recycled paper, etc
− Color code or group word parts together, for example, all suffixes in one
area, prefixes in another, or color code parts of speech
Individual Word Walls
• Put word parts (roots, suffixes or prefixes) in journals, spiral notebooks or threering binders - whatever you require
− Students add the studied word parts and related word lists on pages
designated as such in their journals or note taking systems.
• Offer credit for
− most words found
− longest word found
− most obscure word
− word used the most in writing
− words from other content areas
Consider checking students’ word wall
activities during warm-ups, while taking
attendance, during writing conferences or as
students complete group work
Four Squares
Standard Four Square Model:
Vocabulary Word
and
Definition
2-3 verbal
examples of the
word
Can be completed on:
•half sheets
2-3 verbal nonexamples of the
word
Reminding
picture
or
Mnemonic
•index cards
•foldables (think little books)
•Recycled Paper
One Page Four Square Model
Ratings Games
•
Works as a pre-test for students
•
Provides more time for student practice with words parts
•
Sets up differentiation immediately for students
Word part:
Totally Know It
Kinda Know It
Never Heard of it
Use the word in a
sentence that
demonstrates your
understanding
Find a definition
for the word, write
a sentence
Use the LINCS
chart for each of
the words
Phil/Philo
Philosophy
Philanthropist
Bibliophile
Tally Scores,
complete activity
with most checks
Word Logs
• Students are introduced to word parts and create a word list as a class
• In their “Word Worlds” – other classes, pop culture, tv, movies, at home, with
friends, etc, students listen for words using their studied word part(s)
• Students add these new words to their word logs and share during word study
time in class
New Word
Definition
Where you heard
it
Context
(sentence/usage)
Philharmonic
Devoted to or
appreciative of
music
World News
tonight
The Boston
Philharmonic will
be performing this
weekend.
Word Swat
WARNING: Must have good, strong, meaningful control of class before attempting!! CAUTION!
• Divide students into 4 teams in rows facing the board, each team gets one flyswatter – first person
in row charged with appropriate use of the flyswatter
• Write words or word parts on the board or tape to wall – DO NOT use overhead screen or Smart
boards!
• Review point earning procedures, safety rules and expectations with students
• Ask cloze exercises to students using words or word parts
• Student with flyswatter gently swats word/word part that completes the cloze activity
• Students then rotate to end of the line and next person takes a turn
Word Webs
• Using Inspiration software or the old school pen and paper, allow students to
create webs/diagrams or organizational sketches that link the meanings to other
ideas
− Connections could be:
• Word families
• Position of where the word part falls
• Other content areas (science, social studies, math, foreign languages,
etc)
• Word Web
Looking “To-WORD” the future…
• Share these strategies with your departments
• Share these strategies PARTICULARLY with content teachers – they have a ton
of vocab/word study to do!
• Develop some strategies and their use in your department meetings or PLCs –
power in unity
• Please share YOUR strategies with US so we can share your expertise with
others
• Questions? Comments? Feedback is welcome!